Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-03


voice, Constance spoke again:
''Is that alp"
"All, dear friend; and would that it
had been the task of some one else to
bring you the proofs of the base treach-
cry OF the man you have esteemed so
highly. Bitter as was the pang OF
losing you. / could have controlled my
pain, aud resigned YOU to one worthy
Of your love; but TO think that one un-
known TO any Of US until six months
ago should. with lying and specious
words, beguile ami then desert you
OIL it is too cruelr And burying his
face in his hands, with a groan ho sank
upon chair.
A moment longer Constance stood
like figure carved in stone. then lay
ing her hand upon his shoulder, said,
family:
"Ralph-best and truest friend-coun-
sci me; tell me what to do"
Ralph raised his he;r, and looked
eagerly at her.
"Oh, Constance! if only might coun-
sci you according TO the promptings of
my hcartl You know not low you
tempt me-"
Speak" interrupted the sad voice.
II will listen"
"Hear me, thenr' he exclaimed. seiz-
ing her hands. Your guests are here;
the minister waiting. Let me stand in
the place of HIM who has so cruelty be-
trayed your trust Let him not have it
to boast that he loft lovclorn, desert
ed sweetheart behind. was about to
start for Africa-my passage already
engaged. Will you 60 with me, my
darling-my cherished companion and
wifeP"
For an instant only chill as if from
the icy shores of death trembled along
every nerve and fibre of her being; then
she spoke again:
a will beyour wife. Let us 60 down.
I am ready"
The service was over; few words
had explained the altered situation, and
Constance, having exchanged her we'd
ding-robes for u travelling dress, was
placed in the carriage by her husband.
For while they rode on in silence,
then there was a sudden plunging of
the horses, the driver was thrown vlo-
lently from his seat, and the frightened
animals dashed madly onward.
Ralph attempted to look from the
window, and saw that the horses,
swerving from the main road. had
taken the route leading past the Owl
Tavern.
A little distance further on the horses
shed at something in the road; the
carriage lurehed heavily, and all was a
blank.
When Constance opened her eyes, af-
ter what seemed hours of unconscious
ness, she beheld an elderly man beside
her. ....
"What is itP Where am IP And
where is my husbandP"
eat the Owl Tavern, my dear young
lady, and your husband lies fatally in
jured in yonder room; but he says he
cannot die until he has made n confes-
sion to you. You do not appear to be
injured; try to stand up"
With the DOCTORS help Constance
tottered into the room where her hus-
band lay. His life was ebbmg fast, but
it lasted until he had confessed all-the
forging of the telegram that had taken
the landlord away, the writing of the
other letters, and his conspiracy with .
Grumpy JIM" He told how he had
entered Oswald's stable by means of a
false key and loosened the horse's shoe
80 that it would be lost ON the road,
and finally disclosed the fact that the
bridegroom was lying at that
in little room in the north
wing of the tavern, under the influence
of the drug administered by James Red
furth.
The bride of an hour listened to the
last; then as the stiffness of death set
tied over tho face of the man whose
treachery had well-nigh blighted her
life for ever, her overstrained nerves
gave way and she fell falnting into the
doctors arms
Grumpy Jim," who had been an
accessory in the crime, was Immediate
ly sought for; but it was too late. The
fleetest horse in tho stable was missing,
and the guilty fugitive already beyond
reach.
Two months after these tragic events,
when Constance and Oswald had both
fully recovered from the effects of the
plot against them, there was another
wedding, which no untoward accidents
or evil Vaccinations conspired to delay
or prevent.